Abstract: A hydraulic lash element compensating assembly mounted in the valve end of a rocker arm or other valve actuating device. The hydraulic last compensating element compensates for any clearance in the engine valve train due to wear and due to thermal expansion. The element includes a self adjusting hydraulic assembly with a cylindrical outer housing having a spherical protrusion on the end facing the valve. A foot is retained by a retainer permanently fixed to the swivel foot and securely attaching the foot to the housing, but allowing angular and rotational movement of the swivel foot relative to the spherical protrusion on the housing. The retainer may be constructed from a thermoplastic material by injection molding or from sheet steel by stamping.

Abstract: A variable displacement hydraulic piston machine that includes a shaft mounted for rotation within a housing, a plurality of pistons in a cylinder block coupled to the shaft, a yoke engaged by the pistons for controlling displacement of the pistons in the cylinder block, and saddle bearings pivotally mounting the yoke to a base within the housing. Each saddle bearing includes arcuate inner and outer bearing races fixed to the yoke and the housing base respectively, a plurality of rolling elements captured by a cage between the races, and a timing lever positioning and retaining the races and the cage with respect to each other. The timing lever has a central portion pivotally mounted to the bearing between the bearing races, and opposed end portions pivotally received in the housing base and yoke.

Abstract: An improved digital/analog converter circuit of the analog multiplying type for providing an adjustment for a DC voltage offset. The digital/analog converter circuit generally comprises a code converter, an analog multiplying current source and a bridge output circuit. The code converter converts the values of the tone data into 2's complement numbers. The numbers are then sent into an analog multiplying current source where positive and negative signals are produced to control the current path of a bridge-type output.

Abstract: The invention describes an asynchronous state machine with a programmable tSKEW that is used to generate an empty and full flag in a synchronous FIFO buffer. The present invention reduces the delay associated in producing the full or empty flags from a typical eight gate delays, to as little as no gate delays. The present invention accomplishes this by using a set state machine which can only make an internal flag go low, or active, and a reset state machine which can only make the internal flag go high, or inactive. The functioning of the set state machine and the reset state machine is controlled by a blocking logic. The output of each of the state machines is stored in a latch. The output of the latch is presented to an input of the blocking logic, which is used by the blocking logic to control the activity of the state machines.

Abstract: The use of a bi-layer thin film structure consisting of aluminum or aluminide on a refractory metal layer as a diffusion barrier to oxygen penetration at high temperatures for preventing the electrical and mechanical degradation of the refractory metal for use in applications such as a capacitor electrode for high dielectric constant materials.

Abstract: A floor-mounted door closure device comprising a floor trough insertable in a cavity of the floor and arranged to receive the closer casing from which a pivot pin projects, the device further comprising a cover plate covering the floor trough and closer casing. The cover plate is designed as a carrier for a material layer made of flooring material and is supported on the floor trough such that the cover plate is sunk in the cavity and the material layer carried by the cover plate is substanatially flush with the surface of the flooring material surrounding the cavity.

Abstract: A single IC testing machine can be used to test several IC chips connected in parallel by a unique hardware design and a special software program for execution, for instance, a single testing head and a single set of address input lines can be used for testing the chips by connecting the corresponding similar address input pins of the chips together first and then connecting to the address input lines of the testing machine, and connecting the data I/O pins of the chips to the data I/O pins of the testing machine, and then connecting the voltage input and the ground of the chips to separate voltage sources.

Abstract: A trueing wheel for trueing an abrasive belt or wheel having cubic boron nitride abrasive particles. The trueing wheel has a radially outer peripheral surface which slopes at an acute angle with respect to its axis of rotation. Diamond particles, preferably about 0.150 mm in diameter, are bonded to the sloping radially outer peripheral surface in a single layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes internal power supply buses V.sub.SSI, and V.sub.DDI, and output power supply buses V.sub.SSO, and V.sub.DDO. An output driver of the device has an active p-channel pull up, and n-channel pulldown complementary pair configuration with their outputs tied to a common node, which is in turn tied to an I/O pad. A protection circuit for protecting the device from ESD events includes a series resistor disposed between the source of the n-channel pulldown transistor, and power supply bus V.sub.SSO. The protection circuitry includes a diode having its cathode connected to the I/O pad, and its anode connected to power supply bus V.sub.SSI. The pulldown transistor includes an n.sup.+ drain region, which is shared with the diode, wherein the diode and transistor are merged. The resistor between the pulldown transistor source, and power supply V.sub.SSO permits maintaining this merged structure. In an alternate embodiment, an n-well may be formed to underlie the p.sup.

Abstract: A valve in a fuel pressure regulator prevents liquid fuel from being emitted exteriorly of the regulator housing and onto heated engine components. In the preferred embodiment, the valve allows gaseous flow into a chamber of the regulator when the pressure within the chamber is lower than the pressure of gases exterior of the regulator but prevents gaseous flow from within the chamber to the exterior of the housing. In other embodiment an air-bleed passage is provided in the valve to allow gaseous flow from within the chamber to the exterior of the regulator.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiple channel direct memory access using a virtual array technique comprises n DMA blocks connected in series, each DMA having m independent channels for transferring data. Parameters to control a DMA transfer, such as a source address, destination address, length, and an action mode value, are stored in a memory for each one of the m DMA channels. The first dimension DMA is coupled to the memory to retrieve the parameters and is set in a series mode, while a downstream DMA is set in a normal mode. Operation of the apparatus is begun by starting the first dimension DMA, which then acquires control of the system bus. The first dimension DMA then reads and transfers the DMA parameters to the higher dimension, downstream, DMAs, which preempt control of the system bus away from the first dimension DMA through a multi-layer bus arbiter until the higher dimension DMA transfer is complete. Control of the system bus is then restored to the first dimension DMA.

Abstract: A bi-directional control circuit for preventing the improper functioning of a pass transistor MN1 in a CMOS circuit due to abnormally high voltages on its source and drain nodes IO1 and IO2, involves controlling the voltage V1 on gate of MN1 using a gate node N1 that is coupled to supply voltage VCC under the control of two transistor pairs MN3, MN4 and MP3, MP4 that sense the voltages on IO1 and IO2, and an inverter pair MP2, MN2 having a voltage signal ENB input on its gates. If the voltages on nodes IO1 and IO2 both go high, MP3 and MP4 tend to turn OFF dropping gate voltage V1, via MP2, below VCC and tending to turn MN1 OFF. Leakage from node N1 in such event occurs through a small current bleed network formed by three transistors MN6, MN7, and MN8.

Abstract: A separation preventive pipe joint is provided. A locking ring provided on an inner periphery of a socket is engaged with a projection formed on an outer periphery of an end portion of a spigot to prevent the spigot from being separated from the socket. When the spigot is to move deeper in the socket, a sleeve provided inside the socket abuts the end of the spigot to prevent the movement of the spigot. The movement of the spigot may otherwise be prevented by locating a deeper end face of the socket adjacent to the projection of the spigot. The projection fills up a clearance between the outer periphery of the spigot and the inner periphery of an open end portion of the socket, thereby preventing the spigot and the socket from bending relative to each other. The clearance may otherwise be filled up by means of a ring disposed on the inner periphery of the socket and bolts to be screwed into the socket from the outer periphery thereof to press the ring against the outer periphery of the spigot.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for making an identification mark on a silicon surface. In a preferred embodiment, the identification mark formed on the silicon surface does not substantially score the silicon. A silicon or silicon dioxide surface coated with an insulating layer is marked by laser scribing, leaving an exposed area on the silicon or the silicon dioxide. The exposed area on the silicon wafer is preferably not marked by the laser scribing. The exposed silicon surface is then oxidized by dry or wet oxidizing. The silicon oxide can be subsequently removed to leave an etched mark. The method reduces or eliminates the formation of stresses and silicon slag at the etched mark that can cause defects and reduce yield.

Abstract: A separation preventive pipe joint is provided, in which a locking ring is held by an elastic ring with its axis centered in a locking ring receiving groove. An outer peripheral projection is formed on an end portion of the spigot, the outer peripheral projection being engageable with the locking ring from a location deeper than the locking ring. An inner peripheral projection is formed in an inner peripheral portion of the socket which is located deeper than the locking ring receiving groove for backing up the locking ring. A first inner peripheral surface having a larger diameter than the inner peripheral projection is formed in an inner peripheral portion of the socket which is located deeper than the inner peripheral projection. A second inner peripheral surface is formed between the first inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral projection, the second inner peripheral surface being larger than the inner peripheral projection and smaller than the first inner peripheral surface in diameter.

Abstract: A plastic component including a plastic body having a first body portion and an integral tubular portion defining a tubular extension and a lip seal on the tubular body, the plastic body being formed in situ on the lip seal. The method of making the plastic component including providing a first mold cavity having a portion for defining the body of the component and a communicating second cavity for defining the tubular extension, positioning an annular lip seal in the cavity defining the tubular extension, and injecting molten plastic resin in the first cavity and the second cavity to define the plastic component with the lip seal positioned on the tubular extension.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and an apparatus to produce x-rays from plasmas by focusing an intense, short duration optical pulse from a laser onto a target. The concentrated energy contained in the focused laser beam ionizes the target material, raising it to a temperature at which ions are produced in a chain reaction ionization, and x-rays are emitted when ions become de-excited (their electrons change energy level) or free electrons recombine with the ions in the plasma. The method comprises controlling pulse time duration of x-rays emitted from a plasma-forming target by generating a beam of one or more laser pulses; adjusting the intensity of the laser pulse to obtain a desired intensity incident at a surface of the plasma-forming target matter; directing the laser pulse onto the surface of the plasma-forming matter to generate the x-rays having a pulse duration which changes in proportion to a change in the incident laser pulse intensity.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing and/or replacing a surface-mounted integrated circuit that includes electrical heating elements disposed in a planar rectangular array and a handle positioning the element array in heat-conductive contact with the legs on the side edges of a surface-mounted integrated circuit. When electrical energy is applied to the heating elements, the elements and the integrated circuit legs are heated so as to liquify the solder joints between the legs and the circuit board pads. An air pad is positioned within the heating element array for grasping and holding the integrated circuit to facilitate lifting of the circuit from the circuit board, or for holding a replacement integrated circuit on the circuit board, when all of the solder joints have been liquified.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for attachment to a motor vehicle frame member is adapted to support a frame mounted vehicle accessory, such as a step or running board. The bracket assembly comprises a pair of primary brackets, a pair of connecting pins, a support member, a mounting bracket, and a leveling bracket. The primary brackets define surfaces engaging a vehicle frame member without drilling. The connecting pins extend between and connect the primary brackets. The support member is substantially vertical and is supported by the primary brackets and connecting pins. The mounting bracket extends substantially horizontally from the support member to the accessory. The leveling bracket is fixed to the mounting bracket at a point proximate to the accessory and is fixed to the support member at a point separate from where the mounting bracket attaches to the support member.

Abstract: A method of making an engine block for an internal combustion engine comprising making an engine block with cylinder bores, forming a spray-formed cylinder liner with a predetermined internal diameter and a predetermined external diameter, heating the cylinder block, inserting the cylinder liner in the bore, and permitting the cylinder block to cool such that the liner is locked in position in the bore by compressive forces. The spray-formed cylinder liner comprises a cylindrical body made of a material having predetermined thermal characteristics, wear resistant and scuff resistant materials. The cylindrical body has an external surface formed by spray forming and an internal surface formed by spray forming. The liner can have a single spray-formed layer or multiple spray-formed layers of different materials.